The News in Brief
Monday, May 23, 2022
Prepared by Liza Mchedlidze
‘Borjomi’ Will Continue the Production, PM Gharibashvili Says
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili told the media that the company Borjomi would no longer have problems in its work and the brand will continue to operate freely.
According to the Prime Minister, the issue will be resolved at the government session:
“We have worked actively on this issue as promised. We have had direct communication with the management company, the owners, and everyone. We know that there is an offer to give a share to the state, the government, and our country, which can be worth about $ 100 million.
I have already instructed the Ministries of Economy and Justice, I will have a conclusion in a few days and we will approve all this at the next government session. Borjomi will no longer have any problems in operation and will continue to work for our proud brand, of course, all employees should be calm. I want to tell them that the problem will be solved,” Gharibashvili said.
The company that owns IDS BORJOMI International is ready to transfer part of the shares to the Government of Georgia free of charge. According to them, after the agreement, the company will be able to resume the production process in the factories and resume economic activities.
The company Borjomi fired 49 employees who did not sign the new terms. Dismissed employees are demanding reinstatement in service and resumption of work under the old contract.
Borjomi suspended production on April 29 due to war and sanctions. IDS Borjomi's controlling stake was purchased by Alfa Group in 2013. The founder of Alfa Group is the sanctioned Russian billionaire Mikhail Friedman.
Special Penitentiary Service Releases Statement regarding Saakashvili and Gvaramia
The Special Penitentiary Service has released a statement regarding the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the Mtavari Arkhi. The statement says that some media outlets spread false information about Saakashvili and Gvaramia.
“Unverified and inaccurate information is spread by some media outlets, which may contribute to the formation of a public perception that is different from reality.
Mikheil Saakashvili, convicted on May 19, underwent a scheduled high-tech examination, during which he was not in the ward. Despite being informed about this, lawyer Shota Tutberidze did not wait for the medical examination to be completed, left the clinic, and, speaking to the media, unjustifiably accused the Special Penitentiary Service of imposing restrictions on his client.
The statement that the convicted Mikheil Saakashvili was not allowed to meet with his daughter Alice Maria Saakashvili during his stay in the penitentiary system is a lie.
No one has applied to the Special Penitentiary Service with such a request until May 18, 2022. The next day after the request for a visit, on May 19, 2022, Alice Maria Saakashvili, together with her mother, visited Mikheil Saakashvili at the Civil Sector Clinic.
Here, we would like to respond to the information spread by some media outlets, as if the convict Nika Gvaramia is in solitary confinement in N12 penitentiary institution.
We emphasize that Nika Gvaramia has been informed about his rights since the day he entered the penitentiary system. He is in a standard cell in the facility alone, based on his own decision, which is confirmed by the relevant documentation.
“The Special Penitentiary Service once again calls on everyone to refrain from disseminating unverified, one-sided, and inaccurate information in order to prevent misleading the public,” the statement reads.
‘Borjomi’ Will Continue the Production, PM Gharibashvili Says
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili told the media that the company Borjomi would no longer have problems in its work and the brand will continue to operate freely.
According to the Prime Minister, the issue will be resolved at the government session:
“We have worked actively on this issue as promised. We have had direct communication with the management company, the owners, and everyone. We know that there is an offer to give a share to the state, the government, and our country, which can be worth about $ 100 million.
I have already instructed the Ministries of Economy and Justice, I will have a conclusion in a few days and we will approve all this at the next government session. Borjomi will no longer have any problems in operation and will continue to work for our proud brand, of course, all employees should be calm. I want to tell them that the problem will be solved,” Gharibashvili said.
The company that owns IDS BORJOMI International is ready to transfer part of the shares to the Government of Georgia free of charge. According to them, after the agreement, the company will be able to resume the production process in the factories and resume economic activities.
The company Borjomi fired 49 employees who did not sign the new terms. Dismissed employees are demanding reinstatement in service and resumption of work under the old contract.
Borjomi suspended production on April 29 due to war and sanctions. IDS Borjomi's controlling stake was purchased by Alfa Group in 2013. The founder of Alfa Group is the sanctioned Russian billionaire Mikhail Friedman.
Special Penitentiary Service Releases Statement regarding Saakashvili and Gvaramia
The Special Penitentiary Service has released a statement regarding the third president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, and Nika Gvaramia, the founder of the Mtavari Arkhi. The statement says that some media outlets spread false information about Saakashvili and Gvaramia.
“Unverified and inaccurate information is spread by some media outlets, which may contribute to the formation of a public perception that is different from reality.
Mikheil Saakashvili, convicted on May 19, underwent a scheduled high-tech examination, during which he was not in the ward. Despite being informed about this, lawyer Shota Tutberidze did not wait for the medical examination to be completed, left the clinic, and, speaking to the media, unjustifiably accused the Special Penitentiary Service of imposing restrictions on his client.
The statement that the convicted Mikheil Saakashvili was not allowed to meet with his daughter Alice Maria Saakashvili during his stay in the penitentiary system is a lie.
No one has applied to the Special Penitentiary Service with such a request until May 18, 2022. The next day after the request for a visit, on May 19, 2022, Alice Maria Saakashvili, together with her mother, visited Mikheil Saakashvili at the Civil Sector Clinic.
Here, we would like to respond to the information spread by some media outlets, as if the convict Nika Gvaramia is in solitary confinement in N12 penitentiary institution.
We emphasize that Nika Gvaramia has been informed about his rights since the day he entered the penitentiary system. He is in a standard cell in the facility alone, based on his own decision, which is confirmed by the relevant documentation.
“The Special Penitentiary Service once again calls on everyone to refrain from disseminating unverified, one-sided, and inaccurate information in order to prevent misleading the public,” the statement reads.